Toronto intersections to shut down this fall and disrupt busiest TTC streetcar route

Toronto streetcar service on King Street will be impacted by two major intersection closures on opposite ends of the city this fall, so if you regularly depend on the busy 504 route, you might want to set aside some extra time for your commute.

The TTC and the City of Toronto will be closing the intersections of Dufferin Street and King Street West, as well as Broadview Avenue and Queen Street East, this fall, with the former shutdown slated for October and the latter closure starting as early as Sept. 29. 

According to the City, the two shutdowns are necessary for state-of-good-repair work to upgrade aging track infrastructure. As a result of the Dufferin and King closure, streetcars will divert via Queen between Roncesvalles and Shaw Street, and service will be replaced by shuttle buses east of the Distillery Loop. 

Construction at Dufferin and King is set to begin as early as next Monday and is expected to run until mid-November 2025, according to the City's website. A full road closure at the intersection will be required for the duration of the project, so even if you're biking through, you might want to consider an alternative route. 

As part of the work, crews will install new streetcar track at the intersection and complete sidewalk replacement. Temporary sidewalk closures might also be required, but pedestrian detours will be in place and access to businesses will be maintained.

The work at Dufferin and King will impact lots of TTC routes, including 29/329 Dufferin bus routes, which will divert to King Street West at Joe Shuster Way via Queen Street West and Shaw Street. 504B King streetcars will also operate to Bathurst Street (Wolseley Loop), instead of Dufferin Gate Loop.

Along with track renewal at Broadview and Queen, the City will also be replacing two 112-year-old watermains, as well as the watermain along Munro Street. Work at this intersection is expected to begin in October and is anticipated to be completed by April 2026. 

Phase one of the work will involve crews replacing the watermain that runs along Queen Street East, and along Munro Street. At a minimum, one travel lane will be maintained in each direction on Queen Street East, but temporary closures of sidewalks might be required. 

Between October 2025 and February 2026, the 501 Queen streetcar will divert via Broadview Avenue, Dundas Street, and Parliament Street, and the 504 King streetcar will only operate as far east as the Distillery Loop. 

504 King replacement buses will operate through the work area, running between Broadview Station and King Street and Parliament Street. 

During phase two of the project, one eastbound lane will be maintained throughout the project limits. 501 Queen and 504 King streetcar diversions will also remain the same as phase one. 504 King replacement buses will only operate eastbound between Davies Avenue and Broadview Avenue, and will divert via Broadview Avenue, Dundas Street, and River Street.